by Lori Drake
“Colt, what happened?” Jessica asked, pushing past Joey to reach her packmates.
Ben also rushed past and knelt beside Kate, reaching out to check her neck for a pulse. Her slender neck was red and her open eyes bloodshot. Unblinking. Joey feared the worst even as her eyes slid to Colt.
“Wake up, baby… wake up!” Tears streamed down his puffy face as he gripped Kate’s shoulders, ignoring everyone else.
Ben met Joey’s eyes and shook his head. Colt caught the glance and went into full-on panic mode.
“Help her, man! You’ve got to help her!”
“I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do. She’s gone,” Ben said with sympathy, and closed Kate’s eyes.
Colt’s anguished wail chilled Joey to the bone. She knew what it was like to lose someone, to have them there one moment and gone the next. Chris had gotten a second chance, but there’d be no second chances for Kate. Joey closed her eyes to blot out the sight, but another rose in its place: the memory of Chris’s lifeless body under a pristine white sheet. She remembered it like it was yesterday, that sense of soul-crushing loss. How much worse would it have been if she’d been in love with him then? A chill went down her spine, but it wasn’t the first time the thought had occurred to her.
Jessica wrapped her arms around Colt while he rocked back and forth over the body of his lover, inconsolable in his grief. The room suddenly felt smaller. Too small. Joey forced herself to take a deep breath and squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to yield to the familiar anxiety that sought a toehold inside her. She would not have a panic attack in front of these people.
“Find Eric, now.”
Joey had no idea who Jessica was talking to, but she heard someone moving swiftly to obey. Brandon, probably. But Jessica’s command did raise a salient question: where was Eric that he hadn’t heard the ruckus?
And, for that matter, where was Chris?
Joey opened her eyes and approached the scene on the floor, focusing on the matter at hand to distract herself. “What happened? Who did this?”
The questions earned her a fierce glare from Jessica. Joey was overstepping her bounds, but right then, she had a hard time caring.
Colt turned his head to look up at Joey. What she saw in his eyes made her chest constrict. Confusion. Frustration. Grief.
“I—I don’t know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know?” Jessica asked, her dulcet voice layered atop steel.
“I don’t know! I don’t know!” Colt cried, breaking down in sobs.
Jessica hauled Colt off Kate and herded him toward the door.
Joey stepped into her path. “Where are you going?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m getting him out of here,” Jessica said.
“I didn’t do it!” Colt said, grabbing for Joey’s arm. “I swear, I didn’t do it! I’d never hurt her.”
“There’s no one else here, you son of a bitch!” Jessica spat, her condolences vaporizing in a wave of sudden temper.
Colt flinched and wilted. His shoulders slumped and his head dropped. His hair fell forward over his eyes.
“Maybe there’s another explanation,” Joey said, glancing toward Kate’s body. “Maybe it was self-defense. Look at him. He’s nearly as banged up as she is.”
“Joey, I need to talk to you.” Ben was suddenly at her side.
“This isn’t a good time.”
“I really need to talk to you.”
He touched her arm, and she looked over at him with a frown. “Kind of in the middle of something here.”
“Please,” Ben said.
Jessica took advantage of the distraction and hauled Colt around Joey.
“He didn’t do it!” Ben said.
Everyone stopped and looked at him.
“Then who did?” Jessica said.
“I don’t know, but it wasn’t Colt.”
Joey didn’t disagree, but the evidence said otherwise. “I don’t want to believe it either, but there’s no one else here… Hey, wait!” She followed Jessica and Colt out into the hall, leaving her brother behind. Whatever he wanted to talk to her about could wait. She didn’t trust Jessica any farther than she could throw her—which wasn’t very far, even with supernatural strength. Leverage, and all that.
Jessica hauled Colt toward the stairs by one arm.
“Where are you taking him?” Joey said.
“Somewhere he can’t hurt anyone else.”
“We should wait for Eric.” She couldn’t believe the words left her mouth, and hoped they sounded as wrong as they felt.
Either way, the words had the desired effect. Jessica hesitated.
“I’ll keep an eye on him, okay?” Joey said. “Just sit him down out here in the hall for now.”
Jessica frowned at her, then shoved Colt toward her. “Fine, but if he hurts anyone else, it’s on you.”
Joey guided Colt toward a bench in the hall. He was limping, and one of his eyes was nearly swollen shut. He sank onto the bench and put his face in his hands. Joey sat on the bench next to him, completely at a loss for what to say or do, but as Jessica turned to go, she called after her.
“Hey, Jess, where’s Chris?”
Jessica shot her a glance over one shoulder, then started down the stairs. “I thought he was with you.”
Joey watched her go, wondering where Chris had gotten off to and hoping that he was safe.
Ben stepped out of Colt’s room and closed the door behind him.
“Hey,” Joey said, and motioned him over. “What was it you wanted to talk to me about?”
“Huh?”
“Just a minute ago, you said it was important.”
Ben’s brows drew together and he frowned. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Joey looked from Ben to Colt and back again.
She was starting to get a very bad feeling about all of this.
10
Once Chris got some food in him, he felt like a complete dolt for asking Joey about Eric. It was exactly the sort of thing he’d resolved not to do. Sure, he was still pretty messed up over what had happened between them, but he didn’t want her to know it. That was the thing about inner turmoil: it was supposed to remain on the inside or it became… outer turmoil. Or something.
Once his blood sugar was stabilized and the room stopped spinning, Ben let him stand up and move around. Chris couldn’t escape the stench of cheap beer clinging to him courtesy of whatever it was he’d been sitting in. He couldn’t discern the vintage by scent alone, but the fact that he was walking around smelling like a frat party didn’t please him.
“I don’t suppose you have some spare pants stashed here somewhere?” He eyed his brother.
Ben grinned. “Sorry, no. But I’m sure we can find you something. Come on.”
In the end, it was a pair of Colt’s sweatpants that Chris ended up in. He’d declined the offer of a pair of boxers. It wasn’t that he had a problem with the Lone Star flag print, but rather that wearing another man’s boxers was only slightly less desirable than going commando in another man’s pants.
Despite his protests, his own pants and boxer briefs were whisked off to be laundered. The Granite Falls wolves were extremely accommodating, except when it came to his efforts to glean information about what’d happened in the woods. Every one he tried to question toed the party line, but at least most of them looked regretful about it.
It was nearly one o’clock when he was settled in a musty-smelling guest room with a pile of blankets. He hadn’t seen Joey since she’d gone off on her own quest for answers, but it was probably for the best. He didn’t know what to say to her anyway. Part of him wanted to strangle her. Another part wanted to throw her in the car and take her home, away from whatever danger lurked in the darkness. He fell into bed in his borrowed sweats and undershirt, curled up under the mound of blankets, and closed his eyes.
He had no idea what time it was when he woke. The room was dark, lit only by the amb
ient starlight that filtered in past the curtains. A noise had woken him, but he wasn’t sure what it was. The room appeared as it had when he’d lain down, but a moment later, the bed shifted and creaked as someone slid under the covers behind him.
Chris held his breath. It had to be Joey. Who else could it be? But the scent, not to mention the proportions of the feminine form that cuddled up against his back, was all wrong. An arm slid around him, warm fingers boldly sliding up his shirt. He didn’t know what to do. He’d never been in this situation before.
“I think you’re in the wrong room,” he said.
The hand froze, then brushed warmly across his stomach. “Mmmm. I beg to differ.”
The voice was all too familiar. He’d know that husky purr anywhere. Chris closed his eyes, hesitating a moment before he caught Jessica’s arm and removed her hand from beneath his shirt.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Isn’t it obvious?”
The warmth of her breath on the back of his neck made the hairs there stand up, and he couldn’t help the corresponding stirring of his loins. His neck was very sensitive.
He scooted away from her and turned onto his back. She propped herself up on an elbow, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders as she smiled down at him.
“What’s wrong? Do you prefer boys?”
Chris blinked. “Uh, no…”
“Do you have a girlfriend?”
“No, but doesn’t it seem like these are the sorts of things you should already know about someone before you crawl into bed with them?”
Her smile twitched into a grin. “What’s the fun in that?”
Yeah, this one was trouble with a capital T. He flirted with the idea of going through with it. Why not, after all? Joey had made her decision pretty damn clear, and it wasn’t like he’d never been with another woman. Maybe what he needed was a proper distraction. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander? Hell, maybe once Jessica loosened up, she might tell him what he wanted to know.
It was the last thought that stopped him: literally pumping her for information. It felt sleazy. He sighed.
“Look, Jess, you’re a real nice girl and I appreciate the offer, but…”
She laughed lightly and tipped her head back. “Oh no, you did not just give me the ‘nice girl’ line.” Her hand slid up his thigh, and he was suddenly very glad he’d worn Colt’s sweatpants to bed.
He caught her wrist, fingers gentle but firm. She gasped and looked down at him, running the tip of her tongue along her upper lip. Even trying to fend her off, he was apparently pushing her buttons.
“Seriously, Jess. Stop.”
She flopped onto her back beside him with a huff. He turned over onto his side to face her, tucking an arm under the pillow.
“Stop it,” she said, and threw an arm across her eyes.
Chris frowned. “Stop what?”
“Judging me.”
“I’m not judging you. But if you don’t want to be judged, maybe you should consider, I dunno, not crawling into bed with strangers.”
“You’re not a stranger.”
“We’ve known each other, what, five minutes?”
“I know more about you than I did about the last five guys I slept with.”
He poked her in the side gently. “Okay, now I’m judging you.”
She turned onto her side again to face him, but kept her distance this time, lips twisted in a smirk. “Why don’t you want me? I know it’s not me, so it has to be you.”
“Glad to see your ego is intact,” he murmured. This time, she poked him. “Is it that hard to believe that I’m just not the kind of guy who wants to sleep with someone he just met?”
“No, I believe you’re that kind of guy. Which sucks, because it just makes you that much more desirable.”
He felt himself blushing, and was suddenly grateful for the darkness of the room. “Well, I’m sorry, I guess.”
“I don’t think that’s it, though.”
“Huh?”
“What’s the other reason?”
“Do you have something to take notes with?”
“There are that many?” She smirked again. “Okay, now my ego is in jeopardy.”
Chris chuckled at that and reached over to catch a lock of her dark hair. He coiled it loosely around a finger. “It’s complicated.”
“Don’t be coy. You’re not the only one with issues.”
“I’ve got subscriptions.”
She snorted and watched him in silence.
“You asked if I had a girlfriend, and I don’t, but—”
“Ahhh. I can respect that.”
Silence settled between them for a few moments. Chris let his hand drop and closed his eyes. Part of him wished he did want to have sex with Jessica. She seemed fun.
“Is it Joey?”
Jessica’s words jolted Chris from his musings. He opened his eyes again. “What makes you think that?”
She shrugged. “Woman’s intuition. I thought I caught a glimmer of something earlier, but I couldn’t be sure. I mean, there’s no nice way to ask a guy if he wants to fuck his sister.”
Chris rubbed his face. “God, don’t put it like that. It’s…”
“Gross?”
Chris struggled to find the words. “Overly simplified.”
“I get it. I mean, I don’t get it, but I know what it’s like to love someone that doesn’t want you.” She looked away, expression thoughtful, then back. “Maybe we can help each other out.”
“I’m not sure there’s any help for me. She’s clearly moved on.”
“Moved on… you mean she was into you at one point?”
“I guess you could say that.”
She considered that a moment, then shrugged. “Then it doesn’t matter.”
“What do you mean?”
“If you’d seen the expression on her face when you took a header downstairs earlier… If I were a betting woman, and I occasionally am, I’d wager she’s still got feelings for you. And if she does, there’s one surefire way to get her to show it.”
“And what, pray tell, is that?”
Jessica smiled. “Make her jealous.”
Chris laughed. “I think you’ve watched too many rom-coms.”
“It works, trust me. I’m a girl, remember?”
“What exactly are you proposing?”
“I’ll be your beard.”
“Pretty sure only gay guys need beards.”
“You know what I mean. We fake being into each other, put on a show for her. It’s sure to rouse the green-eyed monster.”
“How does that help you?”
“Well… let’s just say that I wouldn’t shed a tear if she got her hooks out of Eric.”
Chris grimaced. “Eric? Really? What is it with this guy?”
“He’s not an easy man, but I’ve been with him a long time. We’ve got history. His heart’s in the right place. He cares about his people, takes care of them, you know?”
“Like he took care of Jenny?”
Jessica winced. “That’s not fair. No one could have anticipated that. Whatever that was.”
Chris pinched the bridge of his nose. He wasn’t sure how he felt about this plan, both from a “deceiving Joey” perspective and a “helping any woman win over Eric” perspective. “I dunno, Jess. It doesn’t feel right. If she ever found out, she’d kill me.”
Jessica scooted closer and curled an arm around him. “She won’t find out. No one knows but you and me, right? I won’t tell her.”
It was a crazy plan. Crazy enough that it might just work, but would the ends justify the means? Could he keep the secret from Joey for the rest of their lives, or would the deception eat him up inside?
“I… I…”
The refusal was on the tip of his tongue when the bedroom door opened and light spilled into the room from the hallway. Chris twisted to squint at the familiar silhouette in the doorway, and his heart sank into his stomach. Joey.
“What’s up?” Jessica asked.
“Jenny’s awake. I just thought… that is… Um, sorry to uh… Sorry.”
Chris sat up. “Joey, wait—”
Joey stepped back and closed the door, not letting him get any further.
Chris groaned and flopped back down on the bed. “Shit.”
Joey shut the door behind her and held on to the handle for a long moment, as if it might fly open again if she didn’t hold it shut. Her vision swam as a maelstrom of emotion raged within her. It was hard to believe what she’d walked in on. Chris and Jessica. In bed. Her heart ached, but there was nothing to be done now. She’d made this bed, so to speak, and now she had to lie in it. Alone. While Jessica warmed Chris’s.
Damnit. She didn’t want to cry.
Biting down on the inside of her cheek, she headed for the stairs. Chris could lounge around with Jess if he wanted to. She had no claim on him anymore, no matter the regrets that swirled in the pit of her stomach. She had better things to do than wallow in self-pity, and those things started with Jenny.
By the time Joey got downstairs, she’d managed to swallow the tears and get a better grip on herself. She knocked on the sickroom door before poking her head in to check the lay of the land. She’d expected Ben to be there; she’d alerted him to Jenny’s waking before going looking for Chris. Lucy sat at the end of the bed with a hand on Jenny’s ankle, staying out of the way but lingering by her packmate’s side. The fourth person in the room surprised her, but perhaps it shouldn’t have.
It was Eric. He turned to look her way as the door creaked open, and her left eye twitched in annoyance. She was still irked with him, but it was Jenny she was concerned with in the moment. The poor girl whimpered and moaned in obvious agony.
